Screw-propeller



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Gr. Wf HUBBARD SCREW PROPBLLBR.

No. I573,977. Patented De. 29, 1896.

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G; W. HUBBARD. SCREW PROPBLLER.

No. 573,977. Patented Dea-29, 1896.

UNITED STATES i PATENT OEEICE.

GEORGE IV. IIUBBARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SCREW-PROPIELLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,977, dated December2Q, 1896. Appiicationiiieanme10,1896. senato. 595,017. momenti,

it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this speciiication.

My invention relates to propellerwheels for vessels, its object being toso improve their construction that the angle of the blades relative tothe axial line of the propeller-shaft.

may be changed at will from the interior of the vessel, and all theWorking parts necessary to effect the changes will be inclosed andentirely protected from the action of the water or any floatingencumbrances in the water.

To this end my invention consists of the several details of constructionand combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, and particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improvedpropeller-wheel and the operating 1nechanism,the blades being brokenaway; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section on the line :cxof Fig. 1; Fig. 3, atransverse section on the line y y of Fig. 1, the propeller-blades beingbroken away and set at a different angle to that shown in Fig. 1. Figs.f1, 5, 6, and 7 show the propeller-blades at4 different angles to theaxal line of the propeller-shaft.

Similar referenceenuinerals indicate similar parts in the respectivefigures.

The hub or casing 1 is hollow and made of two sections 2 2, which, whenthe several parts are in position, are securely bolted together by thebolts 3, extending longitudinally7 of the hub, the point 4 being madewaf ter-tight. On the inside of the hub are formed guides 5 5, in whichthe rack-bar (i is adapted to have longitudinal movement. This rackbarhas two arms 7 7 the teeth of which oppose each other, but the arms arenot in the same plane, as shown in Fig. 3. The casing 1 is provided atopposite points with openings 8 8, through which extend the hubs 9 9 ofpinions `10 10, journaled within the casing on a pin 11 to haveindependent movement. The teeth `of the pinions l0 10 engage the teethof the arms 7 7 of the rack-bar 6, one arm being above one pinion andthe other arm below the other pinion, so that when the rack-bar is givenlongitudinal movement the pinions 10 1() will turn in oppositedirections. The hubs 9 9 are each provided with an annular groove 12,and the hub has interior annular collars 13 13, which tit into saidgrooves and prevent longitudinal movement of the hubs and pinions whilepermitting free rotary movement. Suitable washers 14 14 are interposedbetween the hubs and casing to make a water-tight joint. The blades 1515 are screwed into the hubs 9 9, shown in Fig. 3, and as an additionalsecurity the setscrews 16 16 may be used to prevent the blades fromworking loose.

17 is the main driving-shaft and is tubular, as shown. One end of thisshaft is rigidly connected to the hub or casing 1 and its other end tothe engine. Within the shaft 17 another shaft, 18, is supported to havelongitudinal movement therein, and one end of the shaft 18 is securelyattached to the rack-bar At a suit-able point in its length the shaft 17is provided with an elongated slot 19, through which and a slot 2O inthe shaft 18 a key 21 extends. This key locks the two shafts together tohave common rotary movement, but the shaft 18 can have independentlongitudinal movement within the shaft 17.

2 represents a sleeve made in two sections, which are securedtoget-herby bolts 23. This sleeve fits loosely over the shaft 17 and isprovided with suitable recesses 24 to receive the ends of the key 2l. Onthe sleeve 22 a strap 25 is fitted in the usual manner to permit thesleeve to turn freely therein but to move with it longitudinally on theshaft.

26 is a lever provided with a circular portion 27 to fit over the strap25, to which it is pivotally connected by the pins or bolts 28 28. Thelower end of the lever is pivotally connected to one end of a link 29,the other end of the link being pivoted to a iixed part 3U of the boat.The upper end of the lever may be operated by hand or otherwise toimpart the necessary movement to the sleeve IOO 22, and through it andthe shaft 18 to the I vpini'ons journaled on the pin and having hubsrack-bar G, pinions 10 10, and blades I5 l5. By this structure it willbe seen th at the angle of the blades relative to the axial line of theshaft may be changed by a slight movement of the lever 2G, and that allthe Working parts are inelosed and isolated from the Water and otherextraneous matter that might interfere with their proper Working.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown the blades arranged at an angle oblique tothe axial line of the propeller-shaft, and when in this position theywill propel the vessel.

In Fig. G the blades are arranged at a right angle to the axial line ofthe shaft, and when in this position they can be revolved Withoutchanging the position of the vessel. This is often advantageous, sincethe engine can be used for other purposes, as running a pump or dynamo,without nneoupling it from the propeller-shaft.

In Fig. 7 the blades are arranged in lines parallel with the axial lineof the shaft, and when in this position they do not drag or offerresistance to the movement of the vessel when it is being sailed Withoutaid from the propel- 1ers.

Having described my invention, I claiml. In a propeller-Wheel, thecombination of a hollow casing or hub having opposite openings in itssides7 a loose pin Within the casing,

projecting through the openings in the casing, a bar having two toothedarms engaging said pinions to move them in opposite directions,propeller-blades secured to the hubs of the pinions, and means tooperate the rackbar substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination with a hollow drivingshaft and a hollow casing or hubrigidly connected to it and having opposite openings in its sides, of aloose pin Within the casing, pinions journaled on the pin and havinghubs extending through the openings7 propellerblades secured to thehubs, a double rackbar engaging with said pinions, a shaft connected tothe rack-bar and extending longitudinally Within the hollowdriving-shaft, devices to connect the two shafts to have common rotarymovement and permit the inner shaft to havein dependent longitudinalmovement, and mechanism to move the inner shaft longitudinally,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In Witness whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

GEORGE W. HUBBARD.

Wfitnesses J G. SARVENT, A. J. SHAW.

